Common Sense Media published research about a week in the life of a young person’s smartphone use, and they named it “Constant Companion.” In today’s episode, Kelly and Chelsea review the key findings in the study as well as unpack the implications of a smartphone as a “constant companion” in the lives of young people today. As always, we look at these findings through the lens of Scripture and provide suggested solutions.

Articles referenced:

2023 Constant Companion Report

Scripture referenced:

Gen 2:18-22

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In this episode, Kelly and Chelsea discuss the recently filed lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta. Currently, the attorney generals of forty-one states have united against one common enemy in order to protect and preserve the well-being of one common victim: children. Is this legitimate? Why are the states taking action instead of the parents? What harm is actually done by algorithm-driven social media platforms? Brave Parenting has identified five core ways social media leads to the demise of mental health and well-being among young people today. These should help motivate you to wait and limit social media until after age 16.

Articles referenced:

Meta’s Instagram linked to depression, anxiety, insomnia in kids – US states’ lawsuit

Scripture referenced:

Ezekiel 13:8

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Get your Aro box to help motivate more 0ff-screen time in your life! Consider giving a year’s subscription as a gift for Christmas – it’s the best investment you can make in someone’s life.

Check out the Pinwheel phone – it’s our favorite not-as-smart kid-safe smartphone on the market.

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November is the month that we shine a light on the dark reality of online pornography. And today, we specifically highlight the newest debate on the ethics of AI porn. Is it now “ethical” since it doesn’t exploit people in the making of it? We provide clear definitions for you to understand the intricacies and an apologetic (defense) for you to use when dealing with this topic.

Articles referenced:

Scripture referenced:

Resource Recommendation:

Check out last year’s No Porn November podcasts for more on this topic: Episodes 79, 80, 81, and 82

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Have you ever answered someone’s “How are you?” question with “Busy”? Today, we aim to define the difference between busyness and productivity and seek to honestly answer how much of that would change if our media/screen/entertainment time went down (or away completely).  The word of God tells us we are to “be careful how we live, not as unwise but wise, making use of every opportunity because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16). Therefore, our “careful” approach to living should involve scrutiny of where and how we spend our time.

This episode was a requested topic by a Youth Pastor who recognized all of the church’s families were becoming too “busy” for church.

Articles referenced:

BlueLetter Bible

Scripture referenced:

Ephesians 5:15-16

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Get your Aro box to help motivate more 0ff-screen time in your life! Consider giving a year’s subscription as a gift for Christmas – it’s the best investment you can make in someone’s life.

Check out the Pinwheel phone – it’s our favorite not-as-smart kid-safe smartphone on the market.

Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s new without social media – a win for everyone!

Today we are talking about some recent news headlines surrounding social media and the culture it breeds. How do parents handle Snapchat? Do you know what the new research reveals about teens notifications? Why are Gen Z young adults so lonely? Should I got to college to be an influencer? All of this from a biblical worldview.

Articles Referenced:

Should I let my kid use Snapchat?

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Continuing our conversation about baby and toddler screen time, today we have Dr. Vivian Carlin providing her expert insight as a pediatrician. We discuss the potential benefits and detriments of consistent screen time at young ages (whether that be television, iPads, smartphones, or video games). Dr. Carlin explains the nuances of research out there and provides practical ways parents can navigate the ubiquity of screens while raising young children.

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In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on and wading through the murky waters of screen time for our youngest kiddos. We look at the pros and cons of screen time for babies and toddlers and discuss the nuanced nature of scientific research surrounding this topic. As online media and screen technology continue to advance at a rapid speed, this topic isn’t as black and white as we’d like it to be, but the word of God is sufficient to help us.

Overall, we want to encourage every parent to simply consider whether the screen time is a Win-Win for you and the child or a Win-Lose (where you win, but they lose).

Scripture referenced:

Ephesians 6:4

Articles referenced:

World Health Organization recommendations

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This week, we are sharing our best practices for giving kids smartwatches. Are they appropriate? At what age? What type of watch is best for kids? We’ve got answers to all these questions and more. We also analyze the narrative surrounding smartwatches on parenting websites and blogs through a biblical lens.

Scripture referenced:

Psalm 119:11

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In this episode, Kelly discusses the WHY of boundaries and restrictions for media and internet-connected devices. Parents, you must know the WHY before you can APPLY. Otherwise, when it gets tough, you’ll give up. Also, Kelly reviews the best kid-safe smartphone for parents to consider and reviews all of Brave Parenting’s best practices for boundaries and restrictions for the devices in your home.

Bottom line: We cannot be afraid of our kids! Don’t fear their anger at you for enforcing boundaries or fear they will find a way to access the internet regardless. We must fear God and be good stewards of our children’s souls.

Scripture referenced:

Matthew 16:26

Books referenced:

The Toxic War on Masculinity">The Toxic War on Masculinity by Nancey Pearcey

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Thinking of a FIRST phone? Our best recommendation is the Pinwheel!

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While it seems like Gen Z has lost their faith and their way, we have another guest today who will shatter that presumption. Sam Langenbahn is finishing his senior year at Texas A&M while simultaneously in seminary at Dallas Theological Seminary. He shares with us how his home life growing up: learning to study Scripture, praying as a family, attending and serving in church, and (you guessed it!) limited access to social media helped shape his faith and, ultimately, his calling into full-time ministry.

Sam has a ton of wisdom and insight to share; you will love him!

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Looking for the best not-so-smart smartphone for your pre-teen? Pinwheel is our top choice!

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